“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
September 8, 2023
“Little Red Riding Hood” is a teachable story. There are those people and ideas that are not what they appear to be. Grandmas can be wolves in disguise. Vanity Fair – this world – has all kinds of distractive deceptions. So Paul had to brace the Corinthian Christians to not let problems and temptations weaken and disable them. The word used here (“stand firm”) is found eight times in the New Testament. Its profile is to stand fast in our Christian liberty (Gal. 5:1). Freedom in Christ is liberty to serve not sin. Stand fast in one spirit (Phil. 1:27). Lock arms with fellow pilgrims in marching in obedience to Christ. Stand fast in testing (1 Thess. 3:8). Don’t let Satan’s arrows make you run from your responsibilities to the Lord. Hard times are designed to create greater endurance. Stand firm in the faith (2 Thess. 3:15). Are challenges to biblical truth driving your roots more deeply into your God-ordered convictions? Pagan thoughts can come disguised as truth. You can see how important it is to be part of a local church that teaches the truth and equips you to not be blown over by the fierce winds of popular lies. Truth is not grounded in feelings. God speaks through His Word, not our subjective impressions. Don’t find yourself trying to curry the favor of the world by silence when you need to speak the truth.
H
“Be sure of your beliefs, be certain of your practices. You see, God’ doesn’t change, So if you change, you’re in trouble. Why go down the tubes? Anchor yourself to the Rock of Gibraltar.” (Martin Luther from his “Table Talk” a contemporary paraphrase by Donald Demaray)